40 Years of Experience of ONDRAF/NIRAS and Belgoprocess on the Interim Storage of LLW, ILW and HLW in Belgium Marnix Braeckeveldt (NIRAS/ONDRAF) Bart Ghys (Belgoprocess)
Content
Introduction
History
Centralised interim storage facilities
Inspections
Observations
Conclusion
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Introduction: simplified organization chart of the bodies involved in radioactive waste management
Federal Government
Ministers Economic affairs and Energy Minister of the Interior
ONDRAF - NIRAS F.A.N.C.
Radioactive waste management
Security & Safety
Belgoprocess (subsidiary company of ONDRAF–NIRAS)
Nuclear operators –
Radioactive waste producers
Who is ONDRAF/NIRAS? ONDRAF/NIRAS, the Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials is
a public body created by Law of 8 august 1980
charged with the management, including disposal, of all the radioactive waste that is present on Belgian territory.
Who is Belgoprocess?
Since 1986, subsidiary company of ONDRAF/NIRAS
Operating, under the control and responsibility of ONDRAF/NIRAS, the agency’s facilities for
Processing and conditioning
Interim storage on the central management site of Dessel/Mol
General missions ONDRAF/NIRAS Collection and transport of radioactive waste
Processing and conditioning of radioactive waste
Storage of radioactive waste
Disposal of radioactive waste
Inventory of all nuclear installations and sites containing radioactive materials
Decommissioning and remediation
Communication
Producer Transport Belgoprocess
T/C, storage
Long term management
Content
Introduction
History
Centralised interim storage facilities
Inspections
Observations
Conclusion
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History (1/3)
Nuclear activities strongly developed from 1955:
Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN.
Eurochemic reprocessing facility.
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History (2/3)
First interim storage for LLW
Sea dumping until 1982 for LLW:
Quality requirements for waste drums -> low
» drum in carbon steel.
» short cycle time production and interim storage.
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History (3/3) Interim storage building 127 for ILW in operation from 1978
1983-1985:Re-orientation waste management
Quality requirements for waste drums life cycle 10 year Surface disposal planned for mid 90’s New interim storage building 150 LLW
1985-……:Surface disposal delayed (operational 2022) Continuous improvement waste drums.
Galvanized Epoxy coating Life expectation 75 years New extra interim storage building 151 LLW
1985-…. : new interim storage buildings for ILW and HLW
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Centralised storage facilities on the BP1 site in Dessel Storage facilities LLW
Buildings
(31-12-2015)
Number packages (#)
/ volume (m³)
Capacity (m³)
/filling rate (%)
Waste
Type Drum
150 3330 / 1922 1929 / 99,6 % LLW Different volumes
151 34446 / 13985 14707 / 95,1 % LLW 400 liter
155 6603 / 2694 4221 / 63,8 % L&ILW (alpha-radium) 400 liter
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151
150
155
Storage facilities ILW Buildings
(31-12-2015)
Number packages (#)
/ volume (m³)
Capacity (m³)
/filling rate (%)
Waste
Type Drum
127 15910 / 3885 4650 / 83,5 % ILW
bituminised and cemented 220 and 400 liter
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127
Storage facilities ILW & HLW Buildings
(31-12-2015)
Number packages (#)
/ volume (m³)
Capacity (m³)
/filling rate (%)
Waste
Type Drum
129 2335 / 215 250 / 86,1 % ILW (vitrified) 60 and 150 liter canisters
136- zone C 390 / 70 106 / 66,2 % HLW (vitrified) 150 liter canisters
136- zone D 556 / 147 600/ 24,5 % ILW (compacted and
cemented )
150 liter canisters and 560
liter drums
156 7 castors 8 castors / 88,0 % Irradiated fuel BR3 reactor Castor BR3 cask
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129
136
136 156 156
Content
Introduction
History
Centralised interim storage facilities
Inspections
Observations
Conclusion
15
During routine inspections: non conformities observed
In 2003 NIRAS/Belgoprocess decided to start a Visual Inspection Program of all conditioned waste packages that ended in 2012
Decission for a systematic inspection :
Before storage all conditioned waste packages inspected.
Witness program on selected conditioned waste packages after 3 years and then after 10 years.
Inspections
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Inspections method LLW
Semi-automatic system » Individual inspection : making pictures and measuring
dose rate
» Operation from control room.
» No dose impact for operator (ALARA).
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Inspections method ILW
Global inspection of the 220l bituminized drums » Camera system on rails (future 3D-camera) » No dose impact for operator (ALARA)
Semi-automatic system of the 400 l drums » Individual inspection :
• making pictures and measuring dose rate
» Operation from control room » No dose impact for operator (ALARA)
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Inspections method ILW & HLW
Inspection of witness drums » Canisters ILW & HLW are inspected in de
unloadingcell of building 136
» No dose impact for operator (ALARA)
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Content
Introduction
History
Centralised interim storage facilities
Inspections
Observations
Conclusion
20
Observations LLW (1/4)
Low Level Waste
Expanding bitumen
Cause:
– Hydrogen production by radiolysis
– RX pictures demonstrated that bells are present
Corrective action for interim storage:
– Puncturing original drum
– Drum placed in overpack
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Observations LLW (2/4)
Low Level Waste
Corrosion drums
Cause:Due to contact of the waste
with the metal surface of the drum
Corrective action interim storage:
– Drum placed in overpack
– Placeholders and baskets are developed to prevent direct contact.
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Observations LLW (3/4)
Low Level Waste ASR (alkali-silica reaction) in homogeneus conditioned
concentrate waste from NPP Doel
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No gel Traces of gel gel < 50%
gel > 50% Gel = 100%
Observations LLW (4/4)
Low Level Waste ASR affected drums
The NPP Doel halted the condition of evaporator concentrates.
Major inspection program on ± 9000 potentially affected drums.
Research and development program of the ASR-Phenomenon
Construction of a new storage building 167X – Individual inspection possible
– Follow up of the life cycle of te gel (thermographic)
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Observations ILW (1/2)
Intermediate Level Waste Expanding homogeneus conditioned
sludge of salts in bitumen Cause:
– Radiolyse caused formation of hydrogen.
– Expanding the bitumen and pushing out the matrix.
Mitigation: – Safety study for hydrogen formation
» Concentrations are very low
» Measurements confirm the study
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Observations ILW (2/2)
Intermediate Level Waste
Corrosion
Cause:
– Construction method of the drum (chromated material)
– Chromation impurities included into the weld
Interim storage/measures:
– Drying system was installed
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Content
Introduction
History
Centralised interim storage facilities
Inspections
Observations
Conclusion
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Conclusion
ONDRAF/NIRAS and Belgoprocess have gained over time an extended experience on the interim storage of Low-Intermediate and High level waste.
An systematic inspection strategy was developed in order the verify the conformity of the different waste-packages and corrective measures were taken to guarantee safe storage conditions.
From 2022 , ONDRAF/NIRAS will operate a surface disposal facility for LLW
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